Salary: $2,764.00 – $3,401.00 Monthly
Location: Benton County – Prosser, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Non-Permanent
Job Number: 2023-05970
Department: Dept. of Agriculture
Division: Plant Protection – Plant Services Program
Opening Date: 05/06/2023
Closing Date: 5/21/2023 12:00 AM Pacific

The Plant Protection Division is hiring multiple non-permanent Fruit Tree Agricultural Aides in the Plant Services Program!

The Plant Services Program ensures environmental, consumer, and stakeholder protection by independently conducting accurate and reliable inspections, testing, and certification of raw plant products and serves on the front line of defense against the introduction and spread of exotic plant pests and diseases. Through regulatory enforcement, export certification and planting stock certification programs, Plant Services ensures a consistent source of value added agricultural products are available to our trading partners in domestic and foreign markets. 

The Fruit Tree Agricultural Aide will conduct greenhouse and field virus index testing and maintaining equipment and facilities. The Agricultural Aid completes the peak season work for the Fruit Tree Certification Project by preparing material for laboratory testing and occasionally helping to run the actual tests and inoculate plants for biological indexing. This position also helps with planting, propagating and maintaining trees in the field and greenhouse. 

Position and Salary Information
WSDA is recruiting for a non-permanent  full-time Fruit Tree Agricultural Aide position within the Plant Services Program in the Plant Protection Division. This position is located in Prosser, Washington and is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for these positions is: $15.89  Step D – $19.09 Step L hourly. 

Duties
Some of what you will do:

  • Graft and inoculate plants in the field and greenhouse. 
  • Plant material sorting and sampling. 
  • Laboratory sample preparation and data entry.
  • Prune and train trees, as well as mow grass, weed fields.
  • General cleaning and maintenance of greenhouse and laboratory. 
  • Haul equipment trailer. 

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

  • Must be able to sort and track different plant samples, and keep accurate records.

  • Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.

  • Must be able to work in field conditions and inclement or hot weather, standing for long periods, and walking on uneven or steep ground.

  • Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

  • Must be able to safely operate farming, greenhouse and laboratory equipment.

  •  Valid unrestricted driver’s license.

  • Graduation from high school or GED.

How to apply
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. Applications with comments “see attachments” will be considered incomplete.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4025410/fruit-tree-agricultural-aide

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